The 3 R's of Habit Change

Published by Russ Small at 4:00 AM under Coping | fear | Health | metaphors | Negative thoughts | nutrition, weight loss | Perspective

Ever have a bad habit you wanted to change but just couldn’t seem to get rid of it? Do things like eating poorly, smoking and lack of exercise immediately come to mind? What really stops us from changing habits? There are a number of challenges that anyone looking to replace their habits will face, here are 3 R’s to keep in mind to make your habit change easy and effective.

Recognition



The first step inevitably in any change process is to become aware of the situation. You cannot change what you aren’t aware of. If you want to change your habit you must first recognize that it is one that needs changing. I suggest you write down your bad habit, describe how it’s affecting your life, and also what you want to do about it.



Replacement



The next step in changing a habit is to replace it. Many mistake this step and try to simply remove their bad habit. The result is they return to their bad habit and this time it’s even worse. Habits cannot be removed they must be replaced. Instead of just trying to quit smoking “cold turkey” try replacing the habit with healthy breathing, yoga, long-walks etc..

Repetition



The secret to successfully changing your habits is by repeating steps 1 & 2. Experts say the average time it takes for something to become a habit is between 21 and 30 days. If you really want your new program, exercise, diet or behaviour to become a habit then keep repeating the action until it becomes automatic.



Now is the time to decide if you want to keep this habit or change it. If you decide to change your habit, keep the 3 R’s of habit changing in mind.



What is the last bad habit you successfully changed?
Resource:http://www.hopetocope.com/blog/post/The-3-Rs-of-Habit-Change.aspx

Make this weekend Count....Start with one small change .